Underground Rivers - University of New Mexico

Chapter 27 -- Virtualizing the Imagined: Underground River Games
And let us hasten to reinforce the educational side of
things. Blending Instructional Design Principles with
Computer Game Design, The Development of Descartes’
Cove, Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia, 2005,
Montreal, by Patricia Wallace, describes computer-based
role-playing to create mathematics adventures for middle
school and early high school students.
According to the author, whom we're told has a PhD,
In a leaky lifeboat, students survive an ocean storm and become marooned on the Cove’s
beach. Once they gather their gear, they can begin one of the adventures through the island’s
underground rivers, castle, jungle, mining caves, and volcano paths. They collect coins and
inventory items as they solve math problems, explore new areas, and eventually reach
Hypatia’s Inlet where the problems are most difficult. Successful students can attempt the Final
Quest (final exam), and enjoy a breathtaking escape.
We're in favor of mathematical education, of course, but we suspect the kids already know from
their own computer games how to escape via an underground river.
Pokemon can be played both on the game board and on the screen. Shown below is the layout
of the underground sewer and a game card.
Although Magic can be played electronically, aficionados tend to prefer the playing-card version
where players duel by casting spell cards which can have a single, one-time effect, set up a
lasting magical enchantment or summon a creature for assistance. Over 8000 unique cards have
been produced.
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